RI News

1:03 pm

Mon November 4, 2013

Cuts to SNAP Will Hit 17 Percent of Rhode Islanders

We’re learning more about how recently enacted cuts in the food stamp program will affect Rhode Island. It will hit virtually every Rhode Islander who receives food stamp benefits.

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Cuts in the food stamp program enacted November 1st will affect 181,000 Rhode Islanders, or 17 percent of the state’s population. The cuts will reduce the monthly food stamp benefit by $11 for an individual, $20 for a household of two, $29 for a household of three and $36 for a household of four.

Andrew Schiff, director of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, said it will undoubtedly put added pressure on food pantries. “There’s no question that more people are going to be seeking help from food pantries across the state that are already at capacity and doing everything we can,” said Schiff, “not only to meet the extraordinary needs that we’ve seen in the last couple of years but now this additional cut is just going to be sending more people to us for help.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 42 percent of food stamp recipients live in households where someone works.

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